Married to the State?

That is especially unbiblical if they do this in a state (which is most of them) that requires a license for legal marriage. This is going against the law, which we are told not to do.

 

Not to agree or disagree with either side, but does not Paul warn us to avoid using secular institutions to decide disagreements inside the church. Does this not also apply to issues such as marriage and divorce. Alot of the controversy I see between people of scriptures is to apply secular law to scripture. The concept of having churches decide these issues is inherently dangerous as to often people want power within a church, but to use secular institutions in matters has been warned about by Paul himself in scripture.

The Muslims are gaining ground in this area in their application of Sharia Law around the world. So I find this to be a quite interesting conversation.

 

Submit to what? There's nothing to submit to.

If a state allows homosexuals to marry, that has no affect on me. (I am opposed to it, but it doesn't affect me.)

I don't have to marry anybody. I already refuse to marry most people who ask. To refuse to marry a couple, regardless of the reasons, is perfectly within my rights.

 

I think you'd be hardpressed to make that distinction stand up anywhere. Whether one likes the terminology or not, to "perform marriage," to "officiate a marriage," or "to marry someone" are three virtually identical statements. No purpose that I can see is served by creating a dichotomy.